According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the total outstanding educational debt has nearly tripled in the the last decade, growing from $364 billion in 2004 to $966 billion in 2012. On average, it rose by 14% every year.

Why do you think this is? Are more students attending college? Are colleges transferring a larger proportion of tuition costs to students? Are colleges spending money on non-essentials and also driving up the price tag?